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Trump says he wants to build $100-million ballroom
President Trump mentioned in a speech from the White House, where he signed an executive order banning men from women's sports, that he wanted to build a $100 million dollar ballroom in the White House.
Demolition started Monday. Here’s what to know about the renovation:
White House ballroom
What they're saying:
President Trump posted on Truth Social Monday evening to say ground had been broken on the ballroom construction.
"Completely separate from the White House itself, the East Wing is being fully modernized as part of this process, and will be more beautiful than ever when it is complete!" he wrote.
"For more than 150 years, every President has dreamt about having a Ballroom at the White House to accommodate people for grand parties, State Visits, etc. I am honored to be the first President to finally get this much-needed project underway — with zero cost to the American Taxpayer!" he continued.
By the numbers:
A 90,000-square-foot, glass-walled space is being added to accommodate 999 people, up from an approximate 200-person capacity in the East Room, which is currently the largest room in the White House.
The White House has said it will disclose information on who has contributed money to build the $250 million ballroom, but has yet to do so.
Demolition of a section of the East Wing of the White House, as construction begins on the new ballroom extension of the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Monday, Oct. 20, 2025. Photographer: Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Local perspective:
Dramatic photos of the demolition work showed construction equipment tearing into the East Wing façade and windows and other building parts in tatters on the ground.
Video showed a giant hole in the wall amid debris, with all the familiar sights and sounds of construction.
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White House facade demolished as work begins on Trump ballroom
A demolition team tore a facade off the White House’s East Wing on Monday, October 20, as construction work began on President Donald Trump’s White House State Ballroom. Credit: Storyful
White House communications director Steven Cheung posted a split screen (below) of the construction and a rendering of the ballroom.
Big picture view:
Plans call for the ballroom to be ready before Trump's term ends in January 2029.
White House East Wing
Big picture view:
The East Wing houses several offices, including those of the first lady.
It was built in 1902 and has been renovated over the years, with a second story added in 1942, according to the White House.
Other White House renovations
The backstory:
The ballroom will be the biggest structural change to the Executive Mansion since the addition in 1948 of the Truman Balcony overlooking the South Lawn, even dwarfing the residence itself.
Timeline:
The White House has gone through four major instances of construction and renovation, according to The White House Historical Association:
- 1792: Cornerstone was laid, construction began
- 1817: White House rebuilt after it was burned by the British in 1814
- 1902: Theodore Roosevelt renovation to modernize and establish the West Wing as new executive office space
- 1952: Harry. S. Truman Renovation completed, which completely gutted and rebuilt the White House from the inside
Big picture view:
Since the last major renovation by Truman, every president and first lady has made changes inside the White House but in very different ways, the White House Historical Association said.
The Source: Information in this article was taken from social media posts by President Donald Trump and White House communications director Steven Cheung, and from imagery gathered from Storyful and Getty Images. Background information was taken from The White House Historical Association and The Associated Press. This story was reported from Detroit.